Routine traffic Stop leads to arrest on warrants

A traffic stop for a seatbelt infraction on Sept. 25 has led to the arrest of the driver on property and traffic safety charges.

While on a routine patrol, an RCMP officer observed a driver without his seatbelt. after stopping the vehicle, police discovered that the driver, a 28-year-old male from Lyalta, had in his possession a stolen license plate. The vehicle was also found to be both unregistered and uninsured.

The driver was arrested in relation to this incident and was found to have outstanding warrants out against him from other RCMP detachments.

The driver has been released to appear in Strathmore court to face Traffic Safety Act charges as well as a charge of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Chestermere RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz said that traffic stops as such as this show the importance of police patrolling the community.

“When we’re enforcing traffic safety regulations and laws it’s not simply about the safety defects of a vehicle or the safety infractions that are observed, but what else is going on in that vehicle,” he said.

“Not every stop results with a ticket,” said Wielgosz, “every stop has the potential to uncover…would be criminals in our community.”